Rafflesiaceae Research Articles

Rafflesia patma (RAFFLESIACEAE): NOTES ON ITS FIELD STUDY, CULTIVATION, SEED GERMINATION AND ANATOMY

Rafflesia spp. (Rafflesiaceae) have a strategic value from both scientific and conservation viewpoints. To date only very few attempts have succeeded in growing the species ex situ and the main protection measures have been by in situ conservation. More detailed studies are required to understand the relationships between Rafflesia spp. and their host plants in order to improve their management and conservation. Studies on the anatomy, in vitro culture and seed germination in connection with conservation have been conducted in the Bogor Botanic Gardens. Effort to transfer Rafflesia patma to an ex situ conservation area has produced some flowers. However, we encountered a bigger challenge to maintain the long term presence of R. patma in ex situ conservation, since a high number of individuals is required to make the viable population.

MORFOLOGI BUAH DAN BIJI RAFFLESIA PATMA DAN R. ARNOLDII

Most members of family Rafflesiaceae are rare plants which found only in a restricted area in Southeast Asia. As a holoparasitic plant Rafflesia totally depends on the specific host plant in specific habitat. The rarity of Rafflesia caused the limited number of research of many biological aspects of this species. In this study, observations on the fruit and seed of R. patma and R. arnoldii were carried out in its habitat and laboratory. Figures and dimension of the seeds was recorded by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

(1923) Proposal to conserve the name Mitrastemon (Rafflesiaceae) with that spelling

(1923) Proposal to conserve the name <i>Mitrastemon</i> (<i>Rafflesiaceae</i>) with that spelling